Zach Kraus gives new meaning to Joey Peters' life

Joey Peters (left), Zach Kraus and Parkettes boys coach Joe Stallone.

By Paul Reinhard -- Special to The Morning Call

Until he met Zach Kraus, Joey Peters thought the most important thing in his life was a successful high bar routine or a big score on the parallel bars.

Joey works out six hours a day in the Parkettes National Training Center in Allentown. On weekends, he spends hours watching videos of world-class gymnasts in action, hoping to get some tips that he can incorporate into his regimen.

Joey, who will be a junior at Parkland High School, is good at what he does. In the Region 7 qualifier for the USA Gymnastics Championships, he placed first in his age group on the high bar and first on the parallel bars. Those scores helped him qualify for the Championships, which are being held this week in Hartford, Conn.

This is Joey’s first trip to Championships, and it’s a big deal. College coaches will be watching the meet, and before long, Joey will be making a college choice.

Joey is also hoping some day to represent the United States at the Olympic Games. It won’t be 2012, but perhaps 2016. But first he has to establish himself.

But because of Zach Kraus, Joey is taking a different approach to this meet – and perhaps to the rest of his gymnastics career.

“I used to be thinking about the gym all the time,” Joey told me recently. “I thought If I didn’t do well in the competition, everything was going to go downhill.

“But when I look at Zach, it puts things in perspective. I’m competing to try to get a medal; Zach is competing to live one more day. It kind of like shows me that gymnastics isn’t the most important thing in life. Sure, this is our life, but when it comes down to it, there are things a lot worse than having a bad day in the gym or a bad competition.”

So, who is this Zach, anyway?

Well Zach, like Joey, is 16 years old. He could easily be in classes at Parkland with Joey. That's Zach, ever the fighter, above.

But Zach’s life has not been as easy as Joey’s. Zach was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) at the age of six. In 2003, he underwent a bone marrow transplant – the marrow was donated by his then-6-year-old sister,Tori. That's Zach and Tori above.

Zach no longer has leukemia, but is now in an ongoing battle with the effects of the cancer on other parts of his body – lungs, bones, kidney, liver.

Last year, he was in the hospital from April until September. He racked up $6 million in medical bills. In January of this year, he received a liver transplant and spent three months in the hospital. When post-operative problems with the new liver arose, he was in the hospital for another three months.

Joey knew nothing about Zach’s problems, but back in January, Joey wrote an essay to be entered in a contest for a Brian Babcock Memorial Scholarship, which is awarded annually during the Brian Babcock Invitational meet in the Parkettes gym.

Joey doesn’t need a scholarship; both of his parents are gynecologists. So, in his essay, he wrote, “If the award comes to me I would like to donate it to cancer research so that others with cancer can achieve their goal of surviving.” Babcock, a former director of the Parkettes men’s program and a former national champion gymnast, died of cancer in 1998.

“Financially, I’m not in a hole like some other people might be,” Joey told me. “I didn’t feel it was right for me to take the money. Coach (Joe Stallone) felt I represented the qualities that Brian had and should write the essay. I felt awkward doing it, but then I heard about this kid who doesn’t live too far away from me who suffered from leukemia.”

Zach Kraus is that kid. Joey’s sister, Christy, is a basketball player at Parkland. She is a teammate of Allison Cressman, who is a friend and supporter of the Krauses. Allison arranged for Joey to meet Zach’s family.

“I told them I won the scholarship and wanted to donate it to help Zach in any way possible,” Joey said. “They were very thankful.It was a good thing. I didn’t feel right taking the money, so I felt it was a better cause giving it to someone who needs it more than I do.”

The $1,000 came at just the right time for the Krauses, who needed to put a new lift into their van to help transport Zach.

The Parkettes’ organization took things even further. After hearing that Zach’s sister, Tori, was doing gymnastics at another gym in the area, Parkettes offered her a scholarship that allows her to train in the Parkettes’ gym at no cost to the family. Needless to say, the Krauses were thrilled.

Zach’s mother, Tamara, says her son is “amazing” and that sounds like an understatement to me. She told me how several fund-raisers were held for Zach, and each time, Zach insisted that a fair share of the money raised be donated to others with similar financial needs.

The Lehigh Valley Yankee Fan Club has been instrumental in helping raise funds through its annual charity golf tournament. He has had lots of other people reach out to him, too. Above, Zach gets a visit from former Eagles offensive lineman Jon Runyan.

In a letter to Parkettes, Tamara Kraus wrote, “You have a reputation of a gym that makes Olympic gymnasts, but I doubt people know of the kindness and generosity your gym also shows. … Having the weight of Tori’s gym fees taken care of has taken such a load off our shoulders and we can never truly express how much it means to us. Tori has been the biggest fighter for her brother … she still says (being his bone marrow donor) was the happiest day of her life. It is so important to us that her life has just a little bit of normal in it; what you have done for her is amazing.”

Zach was back in the hospital late last week with another problem with the liver. But as he has done so many other times, he was fighting for a strong finish.

Joey will be fighting that battle with his new friend, and you can bet that when Joey competes for the first time on Wednesday, Zach will want to be kept informed.

Current Comments

Paul,
Outstanding story.
It is great to see a story like this on the blogs.
Much better than some of the other garbage which is generated on the Mcall blog sites.

This is what it is all about.
Great to see people thinking about other's and not just themselves.
Joey gets my nomination for Valley Athlete of the Year. No one is even close or will even be close.

Posted By: Oustanding Story | Aug 9, 2010 11:45:29 AM

This is a fantastic story, and it leaves out so much more about the kid Joey is. He's an assistant to the younger kids at the gym, and realizes that some of the other younger gymnasts look up to him and takes his position as a role model seriously. He's polite, and excels academically as well as physically. He has an amazing perspective on life for someone his age, and we're wishing him lots of luck this week in Connecticut!

Posted By: Parkettes mom | Aug 9, 2010 12:57:20 PM

Kudos to Paul Reinhard for the fantastic story!

Posted By: Macungie Grandma | Aug 9, 2010 4:00:07 PM

Joey that is awesome you donating your scholarship money to Zach. I know Zach pernsonally and he is amazing. His strength and courage keeps me grounded and reminds me of what is important in life everyday. One thing for sure, with ZACH in your corner I see you coming in 1st place!!! Good luck at competition!! Love ya Zach

Posted By: Yvette Lewis | Aug 9, 2010 6:45:02 PM

Awesome story. Best of luck with your continued healing, Zach!

I enjoyed being one of Joey's teachers this past spring. While I also enjoyed reading this story, I found few surprises in it. Joey's actions as described in the story were consistent with the mature "bigger-picture" attitude I saw in his Honors Biology classwork. The consideration he showed, as described in the story, represents the greatest hope the current generation could realize in the young generation soon to be our doctors, lawyers, teachers, and clergy. To couple selflessness with intelligence and motivation is the proverbial trifecta which can create the best future for us all.
Joey, best wishes for your upcoming gym work in Connecticut!